# American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

> An ~$800 billion stimulus of tax cuts, infrastructure, aid to states and safety-net spending to fight the Great Recession.

Barack Obama · Trade & Economy · Legislation · Feb 17, 2009
Official record: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/43274

## What happened

An ~$800 billion stimulus of tax cuts, infrastructure, aid to states and safety-net spending to fight the Great Recession.

## How it happened

Passed early in the term with almost no Republican votes; signed February 17, 2009.

## Documented impact

- [positive / substantiated] CBO credited it with millions of jobs and higher GDP. — CBO estimated it raised employment by up to ~3.6 million and GDP by 1.1–3.3% at peak (2010).
- [negative / contested] Added to deficits and underwhelmed critics. — Opponents said the price tag worsened debt and that recovery stayed sluggish; some economists said it should have been larger/front-loaded.

## Sources

- [CBO: impact on employment and output](https://www.cbo.gov/publication/43274)
- [ARRA (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009)

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Canonical: https://eo.alanwizemann.com/eo/obama/american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act